for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.

kris G: I hear you. I continue to learn to live with to try and enjoy my stone. Even do my best to accept the stains (husband just recently left something clear but oil based on and stained-I used acetone and it did lift some. But eek!! ). We now use silicone mats under everything. And I only plate meals at the table now. But, even as careful as I am, and quick as I am to clean if something drips, it still can stain/leave a Mark (ie transferring raw bacon to oven pan, liquid dripped, I immediately wiped and it was set). I know no one would notice but it’s hard that I do. I try to no longer be hyper vigilant about it, but, my kitchen has never been clean like this! Haha. Sorry and hopefully you can find a good sealant and some grace

@User, The manufacturer suggests a 1/8" negative reveal. I had the same model sinks in my previous house and the zero reveal worked perfectly. The accessories are designed to sit on the counter and not the rim. These are Julien sinks. A positive reveal would have the accessories not fitting right. I'll follow the manufacturer instructions and my previous experience with this exact product. Wish the installer had! My question is about enlarging a sink cut out once the slab is in place.

You can't use the Elkay ELXUFP362010PAO to which you linked becaust it has a full apron and requires a cabinet that accommodates a full apron sink. If you're not getting new cabinets, you'll have to use theElkay ELXUFP3620PAO to get the Parchment color you want. It's easily converted to a workstation sink by having your top fabricator leave a 1/2" rear reveal and having your handyman rabbet a cutting board which is much easier than having him alter your cabinet doors to be able to use the full apron sink. The Elkay ELXFDB3620BGRTO is a possible short apron workstation alternative, however, you'll have to get it in Ricotta which is bright white. Either sink is 36", so your refacer is going to have to leave you a left and a right side dummy drawer to butt to the apron and cover the remaining 6 " or so. It will look fine. I'd get the 3cm. "Is there an advantage to using an apron front and single bowl versus an undermount & double bowl?" Yes. An apron front sink can help greatly with seam placement and veining/movement matching because the only place the slabs touch is in the rear, mostly out of sight and the seam is half covered by the faucet and splash. 98% of my sink replacement customers go from a double full divide to a single bowl. 1% get low divides and 1% fully divided replacements. "Also should we try for a sink deck? Sink cabinets are 48 inches wide. 25 inches deep. We would like a large sink." If you want a 48" sink with an apron that fits perfectly without door alteration and has a faucet deck, you'll have to go custom stainless steel for 4K or so: Bars in islands are out of style right now. It isn't the difference in fabrication costs as much as it is in reworking the electrical, cabinet and wall alterations, etc. No matter what quartzite you choose, make your fabricator take you to the homes of jobs he's already done so you can verify he knows the properties of the stones he sells so bleeding adhesives and other catastrophies aren't an issue.